Flybe Airlines
Airline Code: BE
About Flybe:
Flybe started operations on 1 November 1979 as Jersey European Airways (JEA), after
taking over the operations of Intra Airways. Jersey European Airways was the brainchild
of John Habin, a resident of Jersey and the majority investor in JEA. Having sold
Aviation Beauport and other business interests, Habin established a few key routes
from Jersey to the UK. Jersey European Airways was taken over in 1983 by Jack Walker's
Walker Steel Group who were already the parent company of Blackpool based charter
airline Spacegrand Aviation. The two airlines were run separately, with partially
shared management, until their amalgamation within the Walker Aviation Group in
1985, under the Jersey European name. The airline rebranded as British European
in June 2000 and later shortened this title to Flybe on 18 July 2002 and aimed to
reposition itself as a full service, low-fare airline. On 3 November 2006 it was
announced that agreement in principle had been reached for Flybe to acquire BA Connect,
with the exception of London City Airport services. The acquisition was completed
in March 2007. The airline is owned by Rosedale Aviation Holdings (69%), Flybe staff
(16%) and British Airways (15%) as a consequence of the acquisition of BA Connect.
It has 3,000 employees at January 2008.
Flybe Major Hubs:
Southampton Airport
Birmingham Airport
Manchester Airport
Belfast City Airport
Aircraft Type:
ATR 72-201
Bombardier Q400
Embraer EMB-145, ERJ-195
Fleet Size: 77
No. of Destinations: 45
Airline was founded in: 1979